Box blank folder

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE IS DISCLOSED FOR FOLDING BOX BLANKS ALONG A FOLD LINE AND INTERCONNECTING THE END PANELS OF THE BOX BLANK BY GLUING OR TAPING. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO PERMIT ADJUSTMENT OF A CONTACT MEMBER WHILE THE MACHINE IS RUNNING SO THAT THE CONTACT MEMBER ENGAGES THE BLANK AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DISTANCE FROM A FOLD LINE TO AVOID BLANK DISTORTION. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATING POSITIONING MEANS AT SPACED POINTS ALONG THE CONTACT MEMBER WHILE THE MACHINE IS RUNNING SO THAT THE OPTIMUM POSITION FOR FOLDING THE BLANK MAY BE ACHIEVED.

March 23, 1971 r. BAUM BOX BLANK FOLDER Filed July 18, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 77150001? BAUM W IM.

ATTORNEYS.

March 23, 1971 r. BAUM BOX BLANK FOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18,1968' INVENTO/P THEODORE 8A UM W rm ATTORNEYS.

Margh 23,1971 2 'r. BAUM BOX BLANK FOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July18, 1968 QM mw mm m g I A s D 1:: N A 3 Nm m March 23, 1971 T. BAUM BOXBLANK FOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1968 Hat/0 INVENTORTHEODORE JAUM W mama.

Arromve'rs. A

United States Patent 3,572,221 BOX BLANK FOLDER Theodore Baum, MountLaurel, N..l., assignor to Harris-Intertype Corporation Filed July 18,1968, Ser. No. 745,889 lint. Cl. B3B) N36 US. Cl. 9352 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A machine is disclosed for folding box blanks along afold line and interconnecting the end panels of the box blank by gluingor taping. Means are provided to permit adjustment of a contact memberwhile the machine is running so that the contact member engages theblank at substantially the same distance from a fold line to avoid blankdistortion. Means are provided for simultaneously operating positioningmeans at spaced points along the contact member while the machine isrunning so that the optimum position for folding the blank may beachieved.

The present invention relates to a machine for folding box blanks. Boxblanks are normally fed through a slotterscorer machine which slots thebox blank and scores the same so as to define parallel fold lines.Thereafter, the blank is then fed to a contiguous folder-gluer machinewhich folds end panels out of the plane of the remainder of the boxblank and joins the end panels by gluing or taping. The folding of theend panels may be upwardly or downwardly with respect to a horizontalplane containing the remainder of the box blank.

In accordance with the present invention, the end panels of the boxblank are folded by means of contact members disposed one on each sideof the machine generally parallel to the path of movement of the boxblanks. The contact member is preferably made from a flexible materialso that it may be bent by a positioning mechanism at spaced pointstherealong whereby the contact member will engage the blank atsubstantially the same distance from the fold line. Each positioningmeans will position the contact member so as to progressively fold theend panels. Means are provided for simultaneously adjusting thepositioning means while the machine is running, thereby avoiding thenecessity of stopping the machine when it is desired to improve thefold.

Thus, the box blank folder of the present invention has the advantage ofpermitting adjustment while the machine is running. The structuralinterrelationship of the folder is such that any tendency to distort theblank is avoided and quality is improved in that there is a minimalpossibility of the end panel being skewed with respect to the nextadjacent panel. The folder of the present invention reduces flutter ofthe blanks and the contact member can be positioned so that it does notsmear over printing on the blanks which may still be wet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paperboard boxblank folder which improves the quality of folding of the end panels ofa box blank in a manner which is simple and reliable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paperboardbox blank folder which permits adjustments of the folding member to bemade while the machine is running.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper-boardbox blank folder wherein spaced portions of a panel contact member maybe simultaneously positioned so that all portions are substantially thesame distance from a fold line on the box blank.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

3,5?Z,Z2l

Patented Mar. 23, 1971 ice For the purpose of illustrating theinvention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presentlypreferred; it bemg understood, however, that this invention is notlikrlnited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities s own.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 -3 In FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1B.

FI G. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the structure ex1st1ng incross section in the location of the positioning means shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the structure as itexists adjacent the positioner at the lefthand end of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the structure as itexists at the righthand end of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the structure as itappears adjacent the lefthand end of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a folded glued box blank.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1010 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective 'view of the box blank shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of an alternative form for thecontact members.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a folder in accordance with thepresent invention designated generally as 10. The folder 10 includes aframe 12. The frame includes longitudinally extending side plates 14 and16. Below the plates 14 and 16, the frame includes additionallongitudinally extending side plates 18, only one of which is shown. Theside plates 18 support rollers 20 at spaced points therealong forsupporting the box blank during at least a portion of its travel throughthe folder of the present invention.

The lower run of a belt 22 is illustrated for contacting the uppersurface of the box blanks and causing them to move through the folder. Acontact member 24 extends along one side of the machine. A similarcontact member 26 extends along the opposite side of the machine. Themembers 24 and 26 extend generally in the direction of travel of the boxblank being processed. The contact members are preferably flexiblemembers made from a plastic material such as nylon. Other flexiblematerials could be used as the contact member, if desired.

A plurality of positioning means are coupled to each of the contactmembers 24 and 26 at spaced points therealong. Each of the positioningmeans is identical except as may be pointed out hereinafter. At alocation wherein the box blanks are flat and lie in a horizontal plane,a positioning means 28 is coupled to contact member 24. At the samegeneral area, a positioning means 30 is coupled to the contact member26. The positioning means 28 and 30 are identical. Hence, only means 28will be described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the positioning means28 includes housing portions 46 and 48 coupled together by bolts 50 and52. Bolt 52 secures the housing portions to bracket 54. Bracket 54 isconnected to the side plate 14.

The positioning means 28 is horizontally disposed. A positioning means32 is secured to contact member 24 and is disposed at an angle ofapproximately 45 with of the leading end pora side elevation view ofrespect to a horizontal plane. A similar positioning means 34 isconnected to the contact member 26. Another positioning means designatedgenerally as 36 is connected to the contact member 24 and is disposedvertically as shown more clearly in FIG. 4. A positioning means similarto means 36 is connected to the contact member 26 on the opposite side.

A positioning means 38 is connected to the contact member 24 and isinclined at an angle of approximately 135 from the horizontal plane. Asimilar positioning means is connected to the contact member 26. Thevarious positioning means coupled to contact member 24 are connected toa means for operating them simultaneously, namely shaft 40. A similarshaft 40 is provided for operating the positioning means connected tothe contact member 26. A greater number of positioning means may beprovided if desired.

Shaft 40 is coupled by sprockets and chain 46 to a motor 44. Motor 44 ismounted on side plate 14. A separate motor, not shown, is provided foroperating the shaft 40'. Motor 44 and the motor for shaft 40 arepreferably gear motors which can be driven to rotate the shafts 40 and40' through a number of rotations which will actuate the positioningmeans to the optimum position to effect the folding.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shaft 40 is coupled to apinion 60 which is in meshing engagement with gears 58. Gears 58 aremeshed with a rack 56. Rack '56 is supported by inwardly extendingflanges on the housing portions 46 and 48. A jaw 62 embraces the contactmember 24, extends through a slot in the housing, and is threadedlycoupled to the rack 56 for movement therewith.

Positioning means 32, 36 and 38 are all identical except for theirangular disposition. Positioning means 32 is angularly disposed so thatthe box blank will have been folded downwardly through an angle ofapproximately 45 at the location thereof. Positioning means 38 islocated so that the box blank will have been folded through a totalangle of 90 at the location thereof as shown in FIG. 7. Positioningmeans 38 is located so that the box blank will have been foldeddownwardly through an angle of approximately 135 at the location thereofas shown in FIG. 8. Hence, only positioning means 36 will be describedin detail.

Referring to FIG. 4, the positioning means 36 includes a housing,supported from the side plate 14 by a bracket 64. The housing includeshousing portions 72 and 74. See FIG. 10. The rack designated as 68 issupported by the inwardly extending flanges 70 and 71 and is in meshingengagement with pinion 66 on shaft 40. A jaw 76 has one end embracingthe contact member 24 and its other end is threadedly coupled to therack 68. The flanges 71 are spaced apart from one another so as todefine a channel within which the reduced diameter portion of the jaw 76may reciprocate.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a flat blank 78 which has beenscored and slotted so as to have panels 80 and 82 connected together bya fold line 84. Panel 82 is connected to a panel 86 by fold line 88.Panel 86 is connected to panel 90 by a fold line 92. For purposes ofillustration, the panels 80 and 90 will be interconnected by a glue tabdesignated as 94. See FIG. 11.

The operation is as follows:

Box blanks which have been scored and slotted by a slotter-scorer arefed to the folder at a high rate of speed such as 200-300 per minutedepending upon the box blank size. For purposes of illustrating a boxblank in the drawing, it will be noted that the box blank is symmetricalwith all of the panels being of the same size. As the panels are movedthrough the folder under the influence of belt 22 and supported by therollers 20, the panels 80 and 90 move beneath contact members 24 and 26,respectively. Since the folding process is iden- 4 tical, only thefolding process effected by contact member 24 will be described indetail.

Motor 44 will have been operated to rotate shaft 40 and therebypreposition the means 28, 32, 36 and 38 to a predetermined locationwherein member 24 will always contact the panel at a location which isuniformly spaced from the fold line 84. Preferably, the contact member24 engages the panel 80 at a location which is closer to the free edgeof panel 80 than the fold line 84.

When the box blank 78 is adjacent the positioning means 28, the blanklies in a horizontal plane. As the box blank 78 is moved to the locationof positioning means 32, continuous contact with the member 24 will havefolded the panel 80 downwardly through an angle of approximately 45 fromthe position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6.

When the box blank 78 arrives at the location of means 36, panel 80 dueto continuous contact with member 24 will have been folded downwardlythrough an accumulative angle of so as to assume the position shown inFIG. 7.

When the box blank approaches the location of means 38, continuouscontact with the member 24 will have caused the panel 80 to assume theposition shown in FIG. 8 wherein it has been moved downwardly through anangle of approximately Continued movement of the panel 80 until itoverlies panel 82 is effected by means of belt 96. Thereafter, thecollapsed box blank as shown in FIG. 9 passes between rollers, notshown, which will insure that glue applied to the tab 94 will be pressedagainst the juxtaposed surface of panel 90.

Adjustment of the positioning means can be effected while the folder 10is operating or inoperative. Such adjustment is attained by operation ofmotor 44. Since the line of contact between member 24 and the fold line84 are parallel, improved quality of folding is obtained in avoidingdistortion, whereby panel 80 would not be skewed with respect to panel90. If desired, the contact members 24 and 26 could be hollow as shownin FIG. 12 and provided with perforations 27 whereby pressurized airissuing through the perforations 27 would provide a film of air betweenthe box blank and the contact members so as to reduce friction.

The shaft 40 and the positioning means operated thereby and associatedwith contact member 26 are preferably independently operated by aseparate motor. In this manner, non-uniform blanks may be processed. Bynon-uniform blanks, it is meant that panel 80 would not be of the samesize as panel 90. Under those circumstances, it would be desirable tohave the ability to locate member 24 from fold line 84 by a distancesuch as 12 inches and locate member 26 from fold line 92 by a distancesuch as 8 inches. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthese dimensions are exemplary and will vary from box blank to boxblank.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the box blanks aremoved in a horizontal plane along a predetermined path. The contactmembers 24 and 26 extend generally parallel to the path of movement ofthe box blank panels. The contact members 24 and 26 fold end panels onthe blank out of the plane of the remainder of the panels. Such foldingmay be upwardly or downwardly. Hereinafter, the motor 44 and shaft 40may be referred to as a means for simultaneously operating thepositioning means 28, 32, 36 and 38, while the folder 10 is running oroperating.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the fore going specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding paperboard box blanks as the blanks are movedin a horizontal plane along a predetermined path comprising means formoving end panels of the blank out of the horizontal plane and throughan arc of 180 so that they overlie adjacent panels and are joined toeach other, said means including a flexible contact member of finitelength capable of being bent and extending generally parallel to saidpath for engagement with blank end panels to eifect folding of the sameout of said plane, separate positioning means at spaced points along thepath, each positioning means being fixedly connected to a portion ofsaid member for positioning said portions substantially equal distancesfrom a fold line on the blank, said positioning means being supportedsequentially orientated at progressively different angles with respectto said plane to progressively fold the end panels through an angle ofat least 135 from said plane, and means for simultaneously reciprocatingsaid positioning means relative to its support while the machine isrunning.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein each positioning meansincludes a reciprocable rack connected to said member, each rack beingcoupled to a drive shaft forming a part of said operating means.

3. A machine for folding box blanks as the blanks are moved in ahorizontal plane along a predetermined path comprising means for movingend panels on the box blank downwardly out of said plane so that theywill overlie adjacent panels and may then be joined together, said meansincluding a contact member of finite length extending generally parallelto said path and made from a flexible material, separate positioningmeans at spaced points along the path and each coupled to said member atspaced points therealong, each positioning means being disposed at adiiferent angle of inclination with respect to said plane, and means forsimultaneously operating said positioning means while the machine isrunning.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein the angle of inclinationof said positioning means with respect to said plane increasessequentially in the direction of movement of the box blanks.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said last mentionedmeans includes a motor coupled to a shaft disposed generally parallel tosaid path, each positioning means being connected to said shaft.

6. A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said contact member isat least partially hollow and provided with perforations so that air maybe discharged 6 through the perforations to provide a film of airbetween the box blank and the contact member.

7. A machine in accordance with claim 1 including a pair of side plates,a pair of said flexible members, each of said positioning means beingsupported by one of said side plates, each positioning means including arack connected to one of said flexible members and a pinion meshed withthe rack for adjusting the position of the flexible members with respectto the side plates.

8. A machine for folding paperboard box blanks as the blanks are movedin a horizontal plane along a predetermined path comprising means formoving end panels of the blanks out of the horizontal plane and throughan arc of so that they overlie adjacent panels and are joined to eachother, a pair of parallel plate members, a pair of flexible contactmembers of finite length and capable of being bent and extendinggenerally parallel to said path for engagement with blank end panels tofold the end panels out of said plane, positioning means supported byeach of said side plates at spaced locations therealong for positioningportions of each contact member a uniform distance from the fold line ofthe box blanks along the entire length of the contact member, eachpositioning means being fixedly connected to a portion of said member,and means for simultaneously moving each separate positioning means,relative to its support plate member, toward or away from a fold line onthe blanks while the machine is running.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said contact members arehollow plastic members.

10. A machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said members areperforated and connectable to a source of pressurized air.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,931,277 4/1960 La Bombard 93523,296,945 1/ 1967 Cvacho et al 9394X 3,335,540 8/1967 Reil et al 9352UX3,371,585 3/1967 Moser et al. 9352 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

